Thunderstorm_over_Corfu

University of California Berkley scientist David Romps and his colleagues analyzed 11 different climate studies and concluded that changing climate will include increased lightning strikes. The studies, focusing on cloud buoyancy and precipitation, showed an increased amount of water vapor due to warming air. Water vapor is the fuel for for thunderstorms and explosive deep convection in the atmosphere, and with increased amounts in the atmosphere the frequency and ferocity of these storms will increase. Precipitation-the total amount of water hitting the ground in the form of rain, snow, hail, sleet, etc.- is essentially a measure of how conductive the atmosphere is.  Buoyancy is measured in the form of CAPE, convective available potential energy. This measures how potentially explosive the atmosphere is. Romps found that by analyzing these two factors he could accurately predict strength, frequency, and size of storms.

Article Link: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2014/11/141113142112.htm

Useful Links:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thunderstorm

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Convective_available_potential_energy

Image Link:

http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Thunderstorm_over_Corfu.jpg